Abraham Lincoln is the creator of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 16th President of the U.S. Lincoln began his quest to this turning point in history by saying that slavery was "an unqualified evil to the negro, the white man, and the State," in the 1850s. However, in his first inaugural address, he stated that he had no reason to interfere with slavery in the states in which it already existed. How did he go from saying he shouldn't change anything in the South to 'I hearby declare an Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery and empowering the Union'.
Well, as president, he was bound to the Constitution, which was, at the time, a pro-slavery document. He was forced to step out of his comfort zone and to change the course of history. And above that, the President had the Republicans putting all of the pressure of an emancipation policy on him. The members of his Republican party had come to the conclusion that the war had become a war against slavery and thought that he should create an emancipation policy for the U.S. in 1862.
William H. Seward, who was the Secretary-of-State thought that this policy should be placed on hold untill a Union victory. The Emancipation Proclamation was postponed, but only for a few months. The idea was still bubbling in his mind, so on July 13, 1862, Lincoln read his initial draft of the proclamation to Seward and Welles. Two months later, the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Finally, on January 1, 1863, the final copy of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
There were continuing problems with the slave-issue, but on April 8, 1864, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed with a 2/3 vote by the Republican Senate. Later that year, Lincoln was re-elected. The following year in 1865, the South surrendered, ending the American Civil War. Sadly, five days after this great victory, Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. He was rushed across the street where he was pronounced dead hours later at age 56.
Well, as president, he was bound to the Constitution, which was, at the time, a pro-slavery document. He was forced to step out of his comfort zone and to change the course of history. And above that, the President had the Republicans putting all of the pressure of an emancipation policy on him. The members of his Republican party had come to the conclusion that the war had become a war against slavery and thought that he should create an emancipation policy for the U.S. in 1862.
William H. Seward, who was the Secretary-of-State thought that this policy should be placed on hold untill a Union victory. The Emancipation Proclamation was postponed, but only for a few months. The idea was still bubbling in his mind, so on July 13, 1862, Lincoln read his initial draft of the proclamation to Seward and Welles. Two months later, the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Finally, on January 1, 1863, the final copy of the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
There were continuing problems with the slave-issue, but on April 8, 1864, the Thirteenth Amendment was passed with a 2/3 vote by the Republican Senate. Later that year, Lincoln was re-elected. The following year in 1865, the South surrendered, ending the American Civil War. Sadly, five days after this great victory, Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. He was rushed across the street where he was pronounced dead hours later at age 56.